2Drawing upon the unique expertise of Greenpeace, this book provides a contemporary overview of the world's oceans. The book covers a wide range of topics to illustrate the breadth of threats from human activities facing the marine environment.41 Biodiversity1.1 Introduction to Biodiversity1.2 The Deep Oceans1.3 Biodiversity Hotspots at Sea in the Pelagic (Open Water) Zone1.4 Coral Reefs1.5 Mangroves1.6 Seagrasses2 Fisheries2.1 Introduction2.2 State of the World's Fish Stocks2.3 Fishery Collapses and Declines of Marine Fish2.4 Whaling and Declines of Cetaceans (Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises)2.5 Fishing Methods of Concern2.6 By-catch of Seabirds, Marine Mammals and Turtles2.7 Towards Sustainable Fisheries3 Aquaculture3.1 Introduction3.2 Negative Impacts of Aquaculture on People and on the Environment3.3 Use of Fishmeal, Fish Oil and Low Value or 'Trash' Fish in Aquaculture Feeds, and Associated Problems3.4 Moving Towards More Sustainable Aquaculture Feedstuffs3.5 Moving Towards More Sustainable Aquaculture Systems3.6 Recommendations4 Pollution4.1 Chemical Pollution4.2 Radioactive Pollution4.3 Nutrient Pollution and Marine 'Dead Zones'4.4 Oil Pollution4.5 Plastic Debris5 Increasing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Impacts on the Marine Environment5.1 Introduction5.2 Sea Surface Temperature Increase5.3 Sea-Level rise5.4 Climate Change and Fishing5.6 Climate Change and the Arctic5.7 Climate Change and the Antarctic5.8 Ocean Acidification and Its Impacts on Marine Organisms5.9 The Way Forward6 Equity6.1 Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (Pirate Fishing)6.2 Tuna Ranching and Pirate Fishing: Wiping out Tuna in the Mediterranean Sea6.3 Freedom for the Seas6.4 Unfair Fisheries6.5 Trade Liberalisation (Free Trade) Means Empty Oceans6.6 Towards Sustainable Fisheries7 Marine Reserves7.1 Introduction7.2 Marine Reserves Defined7.3 Benefits of Marine Reserves7.4 Planning ofMarine Reserves7.5 Implementation of Marine ReservesConclusionAppendixReferencesIndex3The world's oceans cover 70% of the earth's surface and are home to a myriad of amazing and beautiful creatures. However, the biodiversity of the oceans is incre- ingly coming under serious threat from many human activities including overfi- ing, use of destructive fishing methods, pollution and commercial aquaculture. In addition, climate change is already having an impact on some marine ecosystems. This book discusses some of the major threats facing marine ecosystems by cons- ering a range of topics, under chapters discussing biodiversity (Chapter 1), fisheries (Chapter 2), aquaculture (Chapter 3), pollution (Chapter 4) and the impacts of increasing greenhouse gas emissions (Chapter 5). It goes on to explore solutions to the problems by discussing equitable and sustainable management of the oceans (Chapter 6) and protecting marine ecosystems using marine reserves (Chapter 7). Presently, 76% of the oceans are fully or over-exploited with respect to fishing, and many species have been severely depleted. It is abundantly clear that, in general, current fisheries management regimes are to blame for much of the widespread degradation of the oceans. Many policy-makers and scientists now agree that we must adopt a radical new approach to managing the seas - one that is precautionary in nature and has protection of the whole marine ecosystem as its primary objective. This 'ecosystem-based approach' is vital if we are to ensure the health of our oceans for future generations.